Massage instrument



Oct. 17, 1939. w. D. SMITH 2,176,366

KAS SAGE INSTRUMENT Filed June 9, 1957 INVENT OR. BY Wa//ace 'm// MK f1 UMH-U ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in massage instruments.

This invention relates to apparatus for manipulating the tympanic membrane and the .5 ossicles of the ear to alleviate certain difficulties inthe ear which can be treated satisfactorily in this manner. It has for its objects:

First, to produce a new and improved apparatus for massaging the tympanic membrane and ,19 the Vossicles of the ear.

`2K0 easily used to produce a most satisfactory manipulation of the parts of the ear.

Fourth, to produce such an apparatus which may be employed either by the person undergoing treatment or by others.

Further objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow.

Astructure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw- 30 ing, wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a view showing my improved apparatus inplace in the earof a person undergoing treatment, the apparatus being shown partly in section. 35 Fig. 2 is a View of a modied form of the invention shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a further modification of my invention which may be employed in either of the modications shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the apparatus consists of a bulb l made of rubber or a suitable material, having its sides 2 and 3 flattened and having an aperture at one side and an aperture at the other side. The rubber Walls of the bulb are about one-eighth of an inch thick, and I have found that the bulb may be simply and easily formed by taking merely the end portions of the typical oval bulb used in operating atomizers or sprayers for medicinal purposes. These ends are joined together and form a round bulb having its sides flattened, and although the bulb is com- 55 pressible, it is of such stiffness that it returns substantially instantaneously to uncompressed position as soon as the pressure is released.

The side 3 of the bulb may be grasped between the ngers 6 and I of the user and the thumb 8 may be applied to the other side 2 and placed over the opening 4 as shovvn in Fig. l, serving to seal the opening when the device is in use.

An adapter 9 is inserted in the opening 5 of the bulb and a tube il! which may be of metal is fastened on the adapter by spinning the edges in as indicated at i I, being sure to provide a suitable washer or gasket I2 of rubber or the like to make the joint airtight. The end of the tube IG is tapered as at I3 and a rubber covering I4 may be applied to the taper I3. The taper is such that the end of the tube Il! which is apertured, as is shown in Fig. l, may be inserted in the auditory meatus. In order to be sure that a seal is provided, vaseline should be applied to the rubber cover I4 of the taper.

With the apparatus grasped as shown in Fig. l and inserted in the ear, the manipulation is simple. The bulb should be slightly compressed and the thumb 8 then placed over the aperture 4 to seal the same. By moving the thumb a very slight distance it is possible to manipulate the tympanic membrane l5 and the ossicles I5 attached thereto to limber them up and produce in the person being treated the beneficial effects of such manipulation. By expelling some of the air before sealing the opening 4 with the thumb, it is possible, by a very slight movement of the thumb and the resultant compression of the bulb, to produce a back and forth movement of the tympanic membrane in a simple and effective manner. The tube It being of metal is rigid at the pressures involved in using the apparatus, and the bulb being strong or stiff as indicated permits a very fast movement of the tympanic membrane because of the sensitiveness of the device.

The volume of air enclosed in the bulb and tube is small and is not as compressible as a larger volume would be and this increases the sensitivity of the apparatus. The particular form of the bulb increases its strength and its power because the particular form tends to return to its uncompressed form after compression almost instantaneously, so that the motion imparted to the tympanio membrane may be practically a vibratory motion rather than a slower push-pull motion. This form of bulb increases the responsiveness of the bulb considerably because as pressure is exerted by the thumb in opposition to the 1ingers 6 and 'I, the Whole periphery of the top eX- pands and on releasing pressure returns to normal position. The bulb thus is much more responsive than the ordinary form of bulb.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the bulb is substantially the same. An adapter |09 similar to the adapter 9 is employed and a relatively stii rubber tube HG is slipped over the adapter IUS. The rubber tube is suiciently stii so that it is rigid at the pressures involved in manipulating the instrument. A second adapter II'I is employed and a piece of rubber tube H4 is applied over the end of the second adapter. This tube is tapered at H8 for insertion in the ear. The use and function of the apparatus of Fig. 2 are the same as those of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3, I show the end of the bulb and in place of the opening 4, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide an opening 284 in which is seated a check valve 2I9 consisting of a seat member 220 and a valve 22| held in position by the arms 222 which permit the valve 22| to be raised from its seat when compression on the bulb is released and which will seat as pressure is applied.

It will be apparent that when the instrument is inserted in the ear the opening 4 assists materially in providing comfort for the patient because the bulb can be slightly compressed and the thumb can then be placed over the opening and the manipulation may then take place. The removal of the thumb 8 from the opening 4 then permits easy removal of the device from the ear without creating an excessive vacuum which might be uncomfortable because of its effect on the tympanic membrane. that the device could be manipulated Without this opening and that the use of a valve member such as is shown in Fig. 3 will facilitate to some extent the application of pressure because a slight dislodging of the thumb 8 during manipula-tion will not release the pressure in the bulb.

I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention and Wish to claim the same specically and also broadly as pointed out in the appended claims.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for manipulating the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the ear, comprising a bulb having its sides flattened and adapted to be grasped on one side by the lingers It Will be appreciatedy of the hand of the user and on the other side by the thumb .of the user and having an aperture on one side to be covered and closed by the thumb of the user during use and having on the other side an opening and a short tube exten-ding therefrom and terminating in an apertured tip tapered for insertion in the ear, said bulb being compressible but of such stiiness as to return substantially instantaneously to uncompressed position, and said tube being such that it is rigid at the pressures involved in using the instrument, the total Volume of the bulb and the tube being small and such that a slight compression of the bulb to compress the air in the bulb and tube results in an immediate substantially equal response at the aperture of the tip 2. An apparatus for manipulating the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the ear, comprising a bulb adapted to be grasped on one side by the fingers of the hand .of the user and one the other side by the thumb of the user and having an aperture on one side to be covered and closed by the thumb of the user during use and having on the other side an opening and a short tube extending therefrom and terminating in yan apertured tip tapered for insertion in the ear, said bulb being compressible but of such stiiness as to return substantially instantaneously to uncompressed position, and said tube being such that it is rigid at the pressures involved in using the instrument, the total volume of the bulb and the tube being small and such that a slight compression of the bulb to compress the air in the bulb and tube results in an immediate substantially equal response at the aperture of the tip.

3. An apparatus for manipulating the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the ear, comprising a. bulb having an aperture to be covered and closed by a digit of the user during use and having an opening and a short tube extending therefrom and terminating in an apertured tip tapered for insertion in the ear, said bulb being compressible but of such stiness as to return substantially instantaneously to uncompressed position, and said tube being such that it is rigid at the pressures involved in using the instrument, the total volume of the bulb and the tube being small and such that a slight com-pression of the bulb to compress the air in the bulb and tube results in an immediate substantially equal response at the aperture of the tip.

WALLACE D. SMITH. 

